Kentucky Dem: Paul does not deserve to be in the Senate

A Democratic congressman from Kentucky ripped Senate candidate Rand
Paul (R) Thursday for giving a noncommittal answer on whether or not he
endorses the Civil Rights Act.

Paul said on MSNBC Wednesday
night that he believes the legislation improperly failed to distinguish
between private businesses and their ability to discriminate based on
race. Paul, the son of libertarian Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas), said that he
does not endorse discrimination, but questioned the government's role
in desegregation.

"If you decide that restaurants are publicly
owned and not privately owned, then do you say that you should have the
right to bring your gun into a restaurant even though the owner of the
restaurant says 'well no, we don't want to have guns in here,' the bar
says 'we don't want to have guns in here because people might drink and
start fighting and shoot each other,'" he said. "Does the owner of the
restaurant own his restaurant? Or does the government own his
restaurant?"

Rep. John Yarmuth (D-Ky.), whose district contains
Lousiville, said in a statement that Paul is unfit for office.

“The
comments by Senate candidate Rand Paul opposing the Civil Rights Act
are simply appalling, and make it abundantly clear that he has no place
holding public office in Kentucky in the 21st century," he said. "Rand
Paul has already embarrassed Kentuckians in the eyes of the world. The
Commonwealth deserves better because we are better — and I call on Mitch
McConnell and my other colleagues in the Kentucky Congressional
Delegation to join me in condemning his despicable views."

Paul
released a statement Thursday saying he does not favor repealing the
1964 Civil Rights Act.